Stage 3 water shortage prompts restrictions on homes and businesses

A Stage 3 Water Shortage was declared by the Mendocino City Community Services District board at its regular meeting on Dec. 16. The MCCSD had previously declared a Stage 2 water shortage on April 29, due to below normal rainfall in the district.

Ongoing drought conditions triggered a re-evaluation of the water shortage stage on Nov. 30. Depth to water of the five indicator wells was 26.0 feet, which indicates a Stage 3 water shortage.

Total rainfall at the end of November in Mendocino was 1.8 inches. This was less than one-third of the 7.44 inches of average precipitation for the first two months of the rain year.

The district's water shortage contingency plan recommended modifying the water shortage stage to a Stage 3, which is considered a severe drought emergency. It will be important for property owners to continue to conserve water.

The plan requires the following temporary conservation measures for a Stage 3 water shortage:

4. Landscape watering by garden hose or use of a drip irrigation system allowed only between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 a.m.

5. Washing vehicles permitted only by means of a "bucket and sponge," and a hose with a shutoff nozzle

6. Hosing down of porches, sidewalks, driveways, and other hard surfaces is prohibited.

7. No person shall use water through a hose to clean the exterior of buildings.

8. Restaurants shall not serve water to restaurant customers, except upon request of the customer.

Mendocino and the surrounding area are unique from a water supply and water conservation planning perspective.

All residents and business owners in the community are aware of the limited water supply available to them from their individual wells, and virtually all (by necessity) have a strong water conservation understanding and ethic. Nearly all are also aware of the need to "ramp up" water conservation efforts late in the summer and fall, even during normal rainfall years, and to achieve even higher water conservation practices during times of drought.

Please contact the district office if you have any questions about the current water shortage, 937-5790.